The 24-year-old actress – who plays the late Queen frontman's friend and former fiancee Mary Austin in the biopic opposite leading man Rami Malek – has hit out at critics suggesting the movie would downplay his relationship with men and his battle with AIDS.

She told Digital Spy: "It's when people want to have something to criticise that is kind of jarring, especially because it does and the one thing that we're so proud of with this film is that I don't feel it ever steps over the line into any kind of expose or intrusiveness.

"I don't know what people wanted to see in terms of... they always ask about the darkness of Freddie and such and it's like, it's a celebration and ode to [him]."

The 'Murder on the Orient Express' star admitted it was frustrating that the backlash came after a short trailer which was "supposed to tease basically nothing" about the film.

She is involved in a vital scene in the movie which sees Mary and Freddie breakup while addressing the iconic singer's sexuality.

Boynton – who didn't speak to Austin herself about the conversation – added: "Obviously that's a creative interpretation because no one else was in the room so no one else knows what exactly was said.

"It was a weird moment of trying to navigate the most beneficial way to portray it to give the most impact on the audience, but also what she would be comfortable about seeing now and what was true to the situation then. It's a whole juggling act, it's really terrifying."

The Freddie Mercury story. Malek as Mercury does a great job, with a passionate and impressive performance, but despite the recreation of momentous performances it’s a disappointingly tame affair, with a by-the-numbers screenplay and a bland lack of insight into Mercury’s heritage or sexuality.